Dispensing machine



March 28, 1944.

E. H. SARGENT ETAL DISPENSING MACHINE 7 Filed April 23, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 28, 194 E. H. sAReENT ETAL DISPENSING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed April 23, 1941 E. H. SARGENT ET AL DISPENSING MACHINE March 28, 1944.

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Filed April 23, 1941 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 DISPENSING MAGHINE Edgar Haskell Sargent and Anastasius Garrick- Alex, Evanston, Ill.

Application April,23, 1941, Serial No. 389,852

3 Claims.

The present invention relatesgenerally to dispensing machines. More particularly the invention relates to that type ofmachiheiwhich isprimarily designed for use in dispensing batches of nuts, small candies. or other comestibles and as its main parts comoris es a doorequipped housing, means. in the housing for storing, a comparatively large quantity of the comestibles to e d s ens n a hu e, ben th Storing meahsw h. he ow discharge nd. he a ih r to he h us ng-ext i r- One object oi the invention is to provide a ensi maehihe hisy wh q is enerally f nd p ved hhstmtt n and. is characterized by the fact that the means for to in h eq bles s of mple de i and no on y may be ar t ou l ut also, is extremely sanitary.

An he bi e f h hveh ionie o r v d a isp ns ng-m ch e et rz under dere ation i ic he s orin means o he omes r h es o pris s a o whic adahte o o be. filled; with the comestiblesto be dispensed and; has a, readily removable top closure: member; and in; addition comprises an open bottom box holder which is pivotally mounted above the chute so that it is free when the door of the. housing is pe to swi g. ck. and ior h e we n ormal opera posi i n wher n t. is bo and; er il y a i ned with the pp end of: the hu and a charging or boxrecei ng po iti n here it hangs downwards and is disposed inan invert-, ed position. alongside of thechute, and is adapted; when-in its, charging position to have the cornestible filled box placed therein in such manner that. theftop faces. upwards, and isfurther adapte ed a ter p acemen o he ox herein, n emoval of the too, c o re m m er; to be un upwards into i s o m l operat ve si i n ere n rse testo old he. box; n a ver e po ion at is, a posi n; wher n he e mes bl s are-free. o pass. downw rds th o h the hen o tom of; t e ol r n o he d schar e Qhhtenot er ob e of he nt nt on s. o Pr id is hsihe ac he o the a t me ionedfi a a en i w i h; e 12 h bot om o he-h me; ha i ewavs alon the id sher e nd; he pr he. means' a s eeihted her w t v a pla ch-.

ewiao l n;eohhe ohw thchar in of h ol r r thth b x; o. e. d in o he s ide ay into a ositio h r n it se ve to, ose e peh bottom of th h lde an s p e n shilling f the c mesti les f om. he b x n o nect with swingingof the holder into its ncrmhl' operativeposition, and. is furthe adapt d af e swi g r ing of the holder into its operative position, to b w thd a n it m. h idewav an s, he m-it Qt f ee lowh eomest hle tr-O h the o hrou h he. o en bo om; he; h lder- A further; object of the invention is to provide a dispensing machine of the type and character under consideration inwhich the housing and co nestible box have windows which, when the box is in the holder, andthe latter is in its normal operative position, are in registry with one another and permit the contents of the box to be viewediroin the housing exterior. I I i A still further object oi the invention is to provide a dispensing machine which is an improvement upon, and has certain advantages over,

previously designed, machines of thesa me general type.

Qther objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present;

In the drawings which accompany and form apart of this specificationor disclosure and in whichjlilre numerals of; reference denote correspending partsthroughout the several views: Figure l is a fragmentary front perspective view of a dispensing machinefembodying theinvention; r

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the door of the dispensing machine housing in its open position andalso showing'the pivoted box holder in its charging or box receiving position; 5 f e Figure 3 is a perspeotive view of the box coristituting a part of the comestible storing means Figure 4 is a vertical section of the box} Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showingthe door of the dispensing machine hous ing in its openposition and illustrating the box holder in its nori'naloperative position wherein it is disposed above andin vertio al'align nent with the upper end of the chute;

Figurefi is a vertical section showing the box holder in its normal operative position and ilius trating the manner in which the siide type plate serves to retain the comestibles in the box prior to withdrawal of the plate from the slideways at the sides of the open bottom of; the holder; and Figure 'l is a vertical section showing the box hol er after i has be n swun inteits ch si ion and. h bo has e t e n t d e n prepa atory to sw ngin h old h o t rma t o e a iv os t on ve e u she d s n n m chi e. wh qh s hown n h drawings n ti ute he hastene embodimen of he n e i n I is ess ht a lx des gned as. a dispensing mediur for cornestibles such as, v peats and c y and as i slheih Pa ts.eqnhz ee v tho-using 8, a me fltin h using ms t hl in an in t e orm o ox. L and, a he holder H, a discharge chute l2 and coin con;

trolled mechanism l3 for delivering measured batches of the comestibles from the storing means to the discharge chute.

The housing 8 is of box-like design. It comprises a bottom Wall, a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a back wall and has at the front there- 7 of a door I4. Such door, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, embodies a marginal flange and has a hinge connection I5 between one of the side portions of its flange and the adjacent side wall of the housing in order that it may be swung back and forth between open and closed positions. Suitable locking mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the door for the purpose of locking the door in its closed position. When the door is in such position access to the interior of the housing is prevented. Upon release of the looking mechanism and swinging of the door into its open position access may be had to the housing interior.

The frame 9 is mounted on the inside of the door I4 and serves as a supporting medium for the box holder II and the chute I2. It consists of a. pair of vertically extending laterally spaced plates I6 and rests upon, and is supported by, an inwardly extending rigid shelf I! on the lower portion ofthe door I 4. The plates I6 extend at right angles to the door and embody along the bottom margins thereof out-turned flanges I8 which rest onthe shelf I1. Bolts or other attaching devices extend through aligned holes in the flanges l9 and the shelf l1 and serve to hold the frame 9 in fixed relation with the shelf of the door. The upper margins of the plates I6 are bent outward in order to form horizontallv extending fianges I9 at the top of the frame 9. A hopper 2D is fixedly mounted between the upper ends of the plates I6 constituting the frame 9 and this hopper, as best shown in Figure 3, overlies the discharge chute I 2. The upper end of the hopper is open, as shown in Figure 2. In addition it is horizontally aligned with the out-turned flanges I9 on theupper ends of the plates I6. g v

The box I0 comprising a part of the storing means serves as a container for the comestibles to be vended and is adapted to be filled at the place where such comestibles are prepared. It is essentially a temporary or one-use container and comprises a front 2|, a pair of sides 22, a back 23, a bottom 24 and a top 25. The front 2|, as shown in Figure 3, is provided with a window 26 in the form of a rectangular opening and a sheet of transparent material behind the opening. The bottom 24 is-in the form of a plurality of interlocking flaps and these are adapted to be disengaged and opened in connection with filling of the box If]. The top 25 of the box is suitably secured in place and has its central portion weakened by way of lines 21 of slits. The lines are four in number, as shown in Figure 3 and define between them a readily removable top closure member 28. This member is temporarily hangs downwards and is disposed in an inverted secured in place by way of the parts between the slits and is adapted to be removed by rupture of such parts. When the member 28 is removed from the central portion of the box top 25 an opening 29 is formed in the box: top for the discharge of the comestibles in the box.

The holder II is of box-like design and serves, as hereinafter described, to hold the box I 9 in aninverted or comestible discharging position over the chute I2. It is formed of sheet metal and comprises a back 30 and a pair of sides 3|. The sides extend forwardly from the side margins of the back and are spaced apart a sufficient distance so as slidably and snugly to receive the sides 22 of the box between them when the box is inserted into place in the holder II. A rectangular marginally flanged frame 32 is secured to the bottom portion of the holder and serves to hold the back 39 and the sides 3| in rigid relation. The flange of the frame extends upwards when the holder is in its normal operative position and has the back and side portions thereof welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the adjacent portions of the back and sides of the holder. The frame is adapted to have the top 25 of the box I0 rest on it when the box is in place in the holder. The opening in the frame corresponds in shape to the opening 29 in the top 25 of the box and registers with such opening when the box is held by the holder in its operative position over the chute I2. Two pivotal connections 33 in the form of a pair of brackets 34 and a pair of pintles 35 serve pivotally to connect the holder to the frame 9 in such manner that when the door I4 of the housing 8 is in its open position the holder if free to be swung back and forth between a normal operative position wherein it is above and vertically aligned with the upper end of the chute I2 and a charging or box receiving position wherein it position alongside and rearwards of said chute l2. The brackets 34 of the connections 33 are secured to, and project downwardly from, the rear lower corners of the holder II. They are positioned in horizontal alignment and have opposed or coaxial holes 36 in the lower portions thereof. The pintles 35 fit within the holes 36 and are secured to, and project inwards from, the rear ends of a pair of elongated horizontally extending plate type brackets 31. The front ends of the latter lap and are fixedly secured to the upper ends of the plates I6 constituting the frame 9. When the door I4 of the housing is in its open position the holder II for the box I0 is capable of being swung downwards into its aforementioned charging position (see Figure 2 When the holder is in such position and it is desired to insert the box into the holder the box is inserted into the space between the sides and back of the holder and is shifted upwards in order to bring the top 25 thereof into abutment with the frame 32 at the bottom of the holder. Before inserting the box into the holder the top closure member 28 is removed so as to form the opening 29 in the top 25 of the box. After insertion of the box into the holder the holder is swung upwards into its normal operative position (see Figures 1, 5 and 6). When the holder is in such position the box I9 is in an inverted position and the comestibles therein are free to flow through the opening 29 and the opening in the frame 32 into the hopper 20. The out-turned flanges I9 at the upper ends of the plates l6 serve to support the box holder II when the latter is in its normal operative position. When the box is in place in the holder the front portion of the marginal flange of the frame 32 ex-' tends across the lower margin of the box front 2| and prevents the box from moving forwards from the holder. The holder II, when in'its operative position, serves to hold the box so that the window equipped front 2| thereof is in abutment or contact with the inner face of the door I4. In order to permit the comestibles in the box In to be viewed from the housing exterior through the window 28 the door l4 of the housingv is provided with, a window 38. The latter is in the form; of a rectangular opening in the housing door. and a glass plate or like transparent material extends across the opening. As shown in Figure 1, the window 38 is so positioned that is registers with the window 26 in the front M of the box I when the box is in its comestible discharging position. The transparent panel or plate of the window 381s suitably locked in place so as to prevent any access to the 00,- mestibles in the box from the housing exterior. The holder I l is releasably. secured in its normal operative position by means of a spring latch 39. The latter is secured by way of a bolt to the upper end of one of the holder sides 3| and is adapted to engage or coact with a complemental latchpart or eye (not shown).

In order to prevent spilling of the comestibles through the opening 29 in the box top 25 during inversion of the box into its operative or discharging position a plate 40 is provided. This plate is preferably in the nature of a sheet metal stamping and serves as a temporary closure member for the bottom of the box holder; during swinging of the box holder from its charging position into its normal operative position. In order releasably to secure the plate 463 in place across the bottom. of the box holder two angle brackets M are provided. These brackets are. secured to the side portions of the rectangular flange equipped frame at the bottom, of the holder and are arranged so that they form a pair of opposed. open ended slidewa'ys 42 along the lower ends of the sides 3! of the holder. In connection with charging of the holder the plate 40 is slid into interlocked relation with the slideways 42 directly before the holder is swung downwards into its charging position. In sliding the plate into place the front corners are inserted into the rear ends of the slideways and the plate is then shifted forwards so that it completely overlies and closes the central opening in the flanged frame 32 at the bottom of the holder. After sliding of the plate into place the holder is swung downwards into its charging position, as heretofore pointed out. After charging of the holder with the comestible filled box the holder is swung up into its normal operative position. During upward swing of the holder the plate, due to the fact that it forms a closure for l the central opening in the frame 32, prevents spilling of the comestibles from the box It. After shift of the holder into its operative position the plate is slid rearwards out of engagement with the slideways 42. After sliding of the plate out of its operative position the comestibles in the box are free to flow downwards through the box top opening 29 and the frame opening into the hopper 23. The rear margin of the plate is bent upwards and then back to form a hook-like flange 43. This flange has a three-fold purpose. In the first place it serves as a handle for sliding the plate into and out of its operative position. Secondly, it acts as a stop for preventing the plate from being slid too far forwards when it is slid into its operative position. Thirdly, it may be employed as a hook whereby the plate, when not in use, may be hung from the upper margin or edge of the back 36 of the box holder H (see Figure The rear central portion of the plate 4% is struck upwards to form a head-like protuberance 44. This protuberance is adapted when the plate is slid into its operative position across the opening in the bottom of the holder to snap into the opening Gil in the frame- 3 1 and serves. whenin su h p sition. to retain-t e. p ate nmate- The, dischargechute I2 is; located directly beneath thehopper, 20;. It; is suitably secured be tween the lgwerends. of the plates l6, constituting: the framed andcommumcateswith the exterior. of the: housing by Way of an opening 45 in. the-lower portion. of; the door M. A forwardly and. rearwardly tiltablev trough 46; is located at the lower or; discharge: end, of the chute l2 and fits within the opening 45, as shown in Figure 6; This troughis adapted, after; discharge of a batch of the comestibles, to receive such batch, and is further adapted: to. be; tilted forwards into anopen position inorder. thattheperson operating the machinermayreceive the batch.

The coin, controlled; mechanism for delivering measured batches: of. the. oomestibles from the box and holder type storing. means to the discharge chute comprises. a drum 41. This drum is positioned between. thelower end of, the hopper and: the upper end of. the chute I2. and has a pocketfli in. one side thereof, It is suitably sup ported: to. rotate about, a. horizontal axis and is controlled by way of. a, rack 49 and a, pinion 5B. 'Iherack extends. horizontally and is positioned between.v one end: of; the drum and the adjacent plate It. It is mounted or arranged to slide horizontally and; iszurged outwards by way of a tension spring 51. The front end. of the rack extends through a slit in the door l4 and is provided with a knob or'handle 52. The pinion 5,!) is in. mesh with the rack and is connected to the drum;' When, therack is shifted inwards it operates through the medium of the pinion to rotate the drum 41 from apositlon wherein the pocket rd faces upwards to a position wherein such pocket faces downwards and operates to discharge the comestibles therein intothe chute i122 On the out-stroke of the rack the drum is reversely rotated back to its original supporting position wherein the pocket 48 faces upwards and receives a batch of comestibles from the hopper 29. A conventional or standard coin device, including a coin slot. 53: is associated with the rack and operates in response to insertion of a proper coin into the slot to release the rack so that it may be shifted inwards in connection with a vending operation. Such device, as well understood inthe art, permits but a single in-- ward shift of the rack in connection with in sertion of" a coin intothe slot and operates at the end of the retractile stroke of the rack to lock the rack against further inward shift except in connection with. insertion of another coin in the slot.

When it is desired to charge the machine so that it is. in readiness for comestible vending or dispensing purposes thedoor I4 is first unlocked and then is swung: into its open position so as to expose the box holder H. After this operation the plate 5 E is inserted into the slideways 42 and is shifted. forwards: in order to bridge or completely'traverse and: close the central opening in the marginally flanged frame 352' at the bottom of the holder. After proper positioning of the plate M the holder H- is swung downwards and rearwards into its; charging position wherein it hangs downwards and is disposed in inverted position; alongside and rearwards of the discharge chute l2-. As. soon asthe holder is in its changing position the closure member 2.3 is removed-from: the, top. 2.5 of the box it. This operation. results in. the formation of thehole 29 in. the box tonfii. Aiter'removal of theclosure member 28 the box is inserted into the holder H and is then slid upwards in order to bring the top 25 into abutment with the marginally flanged frame 32. The box when inserted into the holder is arranged so that the window equipped front 2| faces rearwards, as shown in Figure 2. After insertion of the box into the holder the latter is swung upwards into its normal operative position wherein it is supported by the out-turned flanges I9 at the upper ends of the .frame forming plates I6 and overlies the hopper 20. At the conclusion of this operation the holder is secured in place by way of the latch 39 and the plate 40 is disconnected from the holder by sliding it rearwards out of the slideways 42. At the conclusion of the last two operations the door is swung into its closed position and is then locked in place. To obtain a batch of the comestibles a coin of proper denomination is inserted into the slot 53 in the door ll of the housing. Thereafter the rack 49 is shifted rearwards to its fullest extent and then retracted. In connection with rearward shift of the rack the drum 4'! with the pocket therein filled. with comestibles is rotated throughout an arc of substantially 180 degrees. During such rotation of the drum the pocket is brought into an inverted position and operates to discharge the comestibles into the trough 46 via the discharge chute I2. After retraction of the rack the trough is swung forwards.

The herein described dispensing machine is essentially simple in design and construction and hence may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It may be charged expeditiously due to the arrangement and construction of the box and box holder constituting the comestible storing means. An inherent advantage of the improved dispensing machine resides in the fact that no human hands are brought in contact with the comestibles in connection with a charging operation and hence the machine as a whole is sanitary.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing machine comprising a doorequipped housing and a discharge chute disposed in the housing and communicating with the housing interior, the combination of a vertically elongated box-like holder disposed in the housing and consisting of aback, a pair of sides connected to, and extending forwards from, the side margins of the back, and a fiat rectangular bottom frame extending inwards from the lower edges of the back and sides and having an upstanding marginal fiange with the back and side portions thereof fitting against, and fixedly secured to, the lower margins of the back and sides, the front of the holder being open and the lower portion of the holder being pivotally mounted so that upon opening of the door the holder is adapted to swing back and forth between a normal operative position wherein it is above, and vertically aligned with, the chute and a charging position wherein. it hangs downwards in an inverted position, and a box for the articles to be dispensed provided with an opening in the top thereof and adapted when the holder is in its charging position to be inserted into the holder via the open front in such manner that the top thereof abuts against the frame of the holder and further adapted upon swinging of the holder into its normal operative position to assume an inverted position over the chute.

2. In a dispensing machine comprising a doorequipped housing, a pair of vertically extending laterally spaced plates in the housing, and a discharge chute mounted between the plates and communicating with the housing exterior, the combination of a vertically elongated box-like holder disposed in the housing and consisting of a back, a pair of sides connected to, and extending forwards from, the side margins of the back, and a flat rectangular frame connected fixedly to, and extending inwards from, the bottom portions of the back and sides, the front of the holder being open and the lower end of the holder being pivotally connected to the upper ends of the plates so that upon opening of the door the holder is adapted to swing back and forth between a normal operative position wherein it is supported by the upper ends of the plates in vertical alignment with the upper end of the chute and a charging position wherein it hangs downwards in an inverted position, and a box for the articles to be dispensed provided with an opening in the top thereof and adapted when the holder is in its charging position to be inserted in an upright manner within the holder via the open front and further adapted upon swinging of the holder into its normal operative position to assume an inverted position over the chute.

3. In a dispensing machine comprising a doorequipped housing, a pair of vertically extending laterally spaced plates in the housing, and a dis charge chute mounted between the lower ends of the plates and communicating with the housing exterior, the combination of a vertically elongated box-like holder comprising a back, a pair of sides connected to, and extending forwards from the side margins of the back, and a flat rectangular bottom frame connected to, and extending inwards from, the lower portions of the back and sides, a pair of angle brackets connected to the bottom portions of the holder sides and arranged so that they form a pair of opposed open ended slideways beneath the frame, the bottom portion of the holder being pivotally connected to the upper ends of the plates so that upon opening of the door the holder is adapted to swing back and forth between an upstanding normal operative position wherein it is in vertical alignment with the upper end of the chute and the angle brackets rest upon the upper ends of the plates, and a charging position wherein it hangs downwards in an inverted position, a box for the articles to be dispensed provided with an opening in the top thereof and adapted when the holder is in its charging position to be inserted in an upright manner within the holder, and further adapted upon swinging of the holder into its normal operative position to assume an inverted position, and a plate adapted prior to shift of the holder from its charging position to its normal operative position to be slid into the slideways into a position wherein it closes the central opening in the frame, and further adapted after swinging of the holder into its said normal operative position to be removed from the slideways so as to permit downward flow of the material from the box into the discharge chute.

EDGAR HASKELL SARGENT. ANASTASIUS GARRICK ALEX. 

